East Bradford couple saved by smoke alarms

Staff Photos by Tom Kelly IV
First West Chester Fire Company Assistant Fire Chief Steve Pelna, on the scene of a house fire in the 900 block of Brandywine Ave. in East Bradford Township, early Wednesday morning, February 27, 2013. They arrived to find heavy fire showing from the home, and the house was a complete loss. No one was injured in the fire.

EAST BRADFORD – A husband and wife were able to escape an early morning house fire at their home in East Bradford Township, thanks to their smoke detectors.

The couple was alerted around 1:30 a.m. Wednesday by the chirping sounds of their smoke detectors, they then saw smoke and flames inside of their home and were able to safely evacuate the home along with their two dogs, according to fire officials on the scene.

Once the couple was safe, they contacted Chester County Emergency Services via 9-1-1 and multiple fire departments were dispatched to the fire scene. The first arriving chief found heavy fire and smoke showing from the front of the home, and additional resources were requested to the scene.

The house, located in the 900 block of Brandywine Ave., is near the intersection of Skelp Level Road and Route 322 (Downingtown Pike). That area of East Bradford Township does not have fire hydrants, and sits up on a steep hill, which caused water issues for the firefighters on scene.

Tanker trucks from multiple fire companies were brought in to shuttle water to the scene from the nearest hydrant almost a mile from the home.

The fire totally destroyed the home and the roof collapsed into the first floor.

The Chester County Fire Marshal’s office said the home was a complete loss and that the fire caused $75,000 worth of damage to the building and $35,000 in damage to the contents.

No one was injured in the fire. The American Red Cross was notified to respond to assist the residents.

The Chester County and Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal’s were both on scene, and are searching for an exact cause of the fire.

Assisting at the scene were: First West Chester Fire Company, West Bradford Fire Company, Lionville Fire Company, East Brandywine Fire Company, Po-Mar-Lin Fire Company, Kennett Fire Company, Good Will Fire Company of West Chester, West Bradford Fire Police, West Chester Fire Police, East Brandywine Fire Police, and the West Chester Police Department.